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Microsoft announced a number of new Surface products today including: the Surface Laptop 3; Surface Pro 7, Surface Earbuds, Surface ProX, the NEW dual screened Surface Neo, and a surprise to many, the dual screened communication device, the Surface Duo. Microsoft has found ways to ensure that you stay in ‘Flow’. That you are able to improve productivity, while, ensuring that you that are able to get your ideas that flow from your heart to your mind. Microsoft has partnered with major manufacturers such as AMD, Intel, ARM, Adobe, Qualcomm and Google to ensure that these devices run smooth and fit with your lifestyle. I think we were reminded that Microsoft is continuing to create devices maintain your ‘flow’ at home or at work.

The Surface Laptop 3

Microsoft was expected to announce a new Surface Laptop at the event. They did not disappoint their fanbase. The Surface Laptop 3 will come in both a 13.5-inch and 15-inch display. The Surface Laptop 3 will also have the coveted USB-C port to allow you to charge most of your compatible devices. The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 3 is built with the quad-core 10th Generation Intel Core processor. The 15-inch Surface Laptop 3, however, will not have an Intel processor, but a New AMD Ryzen Surface Edition processor. Micorosoft claims that the new AMD Ryzen is the “fastest processor for any laptop in its class today.”

The 13.5 inch Surface 3 Laptop is on pre-order for $999 USD. The 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 available via pre-order for $1,199 USD. The Surface Laptop will begin shipping on October 22.

The Surface Pro 7

Microsoft announced the new Surface Pro 7. Most of the specifications are similar to its predecessor, however, with updated Intel processors. You will also be able to by-pass Microsoft’s Surface Connector and use USB-C to charge up your Surface Pro 7 or any other compatible device. The Surface Pro 7 will come with a number of customizable options ranging from Intel dual core i3, quad core i5 or i7. Surface Pro 7 memory ranges from 4GB to 16GB, whereas, the Surface Pro 7 hard drive capacity ranges from 128 GB to 1TB. That’s a wide range of options for the Surface Pro 7. The Surface Pro 7 is available on pre-order and will cost $749 USD.

The Surface Pro X

Microsoft continues to progress its 2-in-1 tablet with the new Surface Pro X. The new Surface Pro X will move away from the x86 processors into a ARM made processor. The Surface Pro X will have a 13-inch display (larger than it’s predecessor – Surface Pro). Microsoft has added a integrated “pencil pouch” for a Surface Slim Stylus, which is located above the keypad. The new Surface Slim Stylus and Surface Pro X were tested out by Adobe at the Microsoft 2019 Surface Event. The Surface Stylus reacts much like a real pencil with form, shading and erasing options and is complemented well with Adobe Fresco. The Stylus continuously charges in the pouch and is ready to follow your creativity.

Microsoft is starting to understand the need to maintain the flow of ideas and productivity. The Surface Pro X weighs just over 1.5 lbs and is 5.33mm thin. The Surface Pro will have LTE integration and support the USB-C port like the rest of the new Surface laptop/tablet models. The Surface Pro X is available for pre-order at a cost of $999 USD. It will be available November 2019.

The New Surface Earbuds

Microsoft is getting into the wireless earbud competition with the new Surface Earbuds. Microsoft is stating that these devices will complement Microsoft Office for dictation and voice call quality. Microsoft claims the Surface Earbuds are tuned for both music and phone calls. The Surface Earbuds will have two microphones to improve noise cancellation. The circular Surface Earbuds are made for comfort and should have a battery life of up to 24 hours.

The Surface Earbuds will also respond to gestures that will help with Office-suite products like PowerPoint. You will be able to advance PowerPoint slides with a swipe. The Surface Earbuds will be available later this year for $249 USD.

The Surface Neo, Windows 10X

The Surface Neo is the new dual-screened device that folds and expands two 9-inch displays. Microsoft claims that the Surface Neo is the “Next Category” in devices. The new Surface Neo boasts that it’s 655 grams, made of Gorilla Glass to ensure durability, uses over 60 coax cables to communicate between both screens, and uses Windows new operating system; the Windows 10X. The Windows 10X is designed for the multi-screen device. The two screens are held together by a 360-degree hinge that uses micro gears to keep the two screens together.

Microsoft states that the new Surface Neo is the new era of global productivity. Apps on the Surface Neo will launch on the side on which it was evoked or can be spanned across both screens. The Surface Neo will optimize the layout automatically. If you decide to flip the device to a horizontal posture, the device will intuitively change the display and function to match. Once you attach the magnetic keyboard in the horizontal book posture, a “WonderBar” display appears showing you the meta information or workable track-pad or ink-pad for the App that you are using. Microsoft continues to make you continue to flow through the different ‘postures’ of the device. The keyboard can also be separated from the device to allow you to see both screens.

The Surface Neo will come with a 11th generation Lakefield processor. Microsoft says that the device will be released to developers to ensure that Apps are ready for the 2020 Holiday season. This is pretty exciting to see Microsoft develop new devices aimed at increasing productivity at home and in the workplace.

The Surface Duo

Microsoft also announced a fold-able, dual-screened mobile device (phablet) called the Surface Duo. This was a surprise to many in the tech world. Microsoft states the product is fully “Surface” in reference to the suite of Surface products, technology and vision that Microsoft is pushing towards. Microsoft states they want you to be as productive as you can be. They researched the science behind getting as much information that you could handle to ensure that you maintain the flow of your ideas and creativity without compromising the human connection. Microsoft talked about preventing the working memory from flushing out; otherwise, you would be out of your ‘flow’. Enter in, Microsoft’s new Surface Duo dual-screened connection and information device.

Microsoft partnered with Google to provide an Android operating system for the Surface Duo. The Surface Duo has two 5.6-inch displays. Microsoft states that these dual screens act as “defined real-estate… that drives you into flow.” Information can be seen on one or two screens while applications drive the information you need. The Surface Duo will be released to developers in order to create API across two screens. The new Surface Duo will be released in the 2020 Holiday season.

Microsoft 2019 Surface Event

I don’t think the Microsoft 2019 Surface Event received the fanfare it deserved. However, if you thought that the Microsoft 2019 Surface Event was going to be information on upgrades of existing Surface devices such as the Surface Laptop or Surface Pro series, it would be understandable that you would view it as a normal evolution process for Microsoft.

Microsoft made some major headway into the home and office productivity market at the 2019 Surface Event. They introduced new hardware and better technology to help you stay connected and improve your “flow”. They were all about the “flow” today. The introduced a Surface device for everyone: The Surface Laptop 3 with more horsepower, the Surface Pro 7 with more capacity and better performance, the 2-in-1 Surface Pro X that improves creativity while keeping you connected. They also announced their competitive Surface Earbuds which will be tested in the home and office. They continue to surround the home and workplace and do such a great job at giving you the tools you need to function while minimizing interruption.

Microsoft then gets all new and innovative by creating a new segment in the device marketplace! What!? Yes, there was talk about a fold-able screen: The new Surface Neo and the Surface Duo phone. But to integrate new technology and new applications to ensure that you can make the most of two-screens!? without compromising the human connection?

You can really buy-into Microsoft’s vision here. They want to keep you ‘flowing’. They don’t want to slow you down. Microsoft is working with so many others to get you the devices you need to keep you going. They want to create a world you want to live in. It will be exciting to see the new applications running in two displays – information and connection.

Hope you enjoyed reading about the Microsoft’s new devices announced in the 2019 Surface Event. The story continues.

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